IT Freedom Blog

2018 Holiday Gift Guide - Part 1

Halloween is over, Thanksgiving is up next, and it’s officially acceptable to start holiday shopping!In this year's 2 part series we’re giving you some (hopefully) helpful tips to shop for the tech obsessed in your life!

Tech for the Home

Need someone in your house to stop hitting snooze in the morning? Check out Clocky, the original alarm clock “that runs away”. Clocky gives you the ability to snooze just once, and then hops off the nightstand, forcing you to get up and turn it off.Clocky comes in 7 colors and is only $40!

Know someone who likes to talk to the TV? Well now that might actually be useful! You can ask the Sonos soundbar the same things you ask an Echo, as well as using it to control your TV (as long as your TV supports HDMI-ARC). The Beam is a perfect mid-range soundbar with the quality of Sonos speakers, a sleek design, and the functionality of Alexa.

Okay, okay. It’s not the most “fun” holiday gift, but for some (especially pet owners) this vacuum could be a giant time saver. By now we all know what a Roomba does so i’ll spare you the basic details, so it’s really all about the new features in this model. The Roomba 690 is Wi-Fi enabled and works with your Google home, or Alexa, and is quieter while running than most other models. The Roomba 690 also uses “dirt detect” to ensure that any particularly dirty areas are covered multiple times. The Roomba 690 is a good mid-range option and comes in at around $350. If you’re looking for something with a little more power and don’t mind spending the money, check out the Roomba 960.

Tech for the World Traveler

Now, this isn’t exactly “super techy”, and really the biggest tech piece of this is the built in phone charger with an ejectable battery (per TSA guidelines). This suitcase is perfect for anyone who spends a significant amount of time on the road. The hard shell case, interior compression system, and TSA approved lock make this a must have for any constant traveler.

They come in a variety of colors and sizes with the carry on starting at $225 and the larger case starting at $295.

You can also have each case monogrammed to add a touch of personalization.

If you’re looking for a high capacity charger - look no further. The Anker PowerCore 26800 holds enough power for around 6 full charges (depending on which phone you have) and uses PowerIQ for high speed charging. It’s definitely a bit on the larger scale, but for someone whose main concern is capacity, this is absolutely the way to go. This charger comes in black and white and you can purchase it online for $66.

Bose has released their “most noise canceling headphones yet” with the QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones II. These over-ear headphones are really the best of the best when it comes to noise canceling bluetooth headphones. Equipped with voice optimization for Amazon and Google, you can make your phone, and your day, from your headphones. With 26 colors and 20 hours of batter life, this is the ultimate pair of headphones for those on the go (and it doesn’t hurt that they look pretty comfortable too). Customize your pair online and purchase for around $350.

Tech for the Students in Your Life

Make their life a little easier with these perfect gadgets for studying, productivity, and getting around campus.

This year’s new MacBook Air is being called “ultra portable” and is made entirely from recycled aluminum, and weighs only 2.5lbs. The new edition is still 13.3 inches but has a larger display since Apple shrunk the bezels by 50% leading to an almost edge-to-edge display. This MacBook also features the Touch ID scanner found on the current MacBook Pro. The Air is already available for purchase starting at $1,200 and comes in gold, space gray and silver.

This 25L anti-theft backpack is water repellent, built with ExoMesh Slash-guard material and includes RFID safe material and pockets, and a security lock providing the ultimate protection for your devices, wallet and anything else valuable. Perfect for students and travelers who have to carry their valuables around with them everyday. This backpack comes in 6 colors and is currently on sale for $86.96!

Perfect for students who rely heavily on their iPhone or iPad throughout the day. This flash drive plugs directly into both devices, and their computer to quickly transfer files. The iXpand works with most device cases, automatically backs up your photos, allows you to watch videos straight from the drive, and comes with encryption software to password protect your files. The iXpand start at $27.99 for a 32GB drive and is the ideal solution for busy students who don’t want to bring their laptops with them everywhere, or want to be sure all their files are backed up and protected.

Well, that’s it for part 1 - be sure to check back for part two where we talk about phones, watches, and the ultimate in entertainment tech. If you or anyone you know has one of these devices, or receives one for the holidays, let us know your thoughts in the comments, or on our Facebook or Twitter!

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